Heard this morning that this game has been fixed for Scotstown instead of Clones.
Another tough one for Monaghan. We need a much improved performance from last weekend were we gained a lucky enough point.
Cork full of injuries.
Quote from: timmyot501 on March 24, 2009, 11:27:16 AM
Heard this morning that this game has been fixed for Scotstown instead of Clones.
Ah holy jaysis >:(
I'd normally have a Clones bias, but Scotstown might actually work for this one - can be a good atmosphere with a big crowd close to the pitch, and we need the 16th man this weekend. However, you'd want to turn up very early - it's a nightmare for traffic.
As for the game, has Monaghan ever beaten Cork? I'm glad we have this one at home (i assume there'll be no away support - Cork don't even do home support a lot of the time). We need the 2 points from this one to stand a chance and even then, we're relying on other results going our way.
A performance like last Saturday's and we might as well not turn up. We need our big names to stand up and be counted for this one.
I suspect we might see Manzie restored to the half forward line this week, does anyone know what the story is with JP?
Predicted team (assuming JP is injured)
Butsy/Duffy (played well last week I thought)
Dessie
Vinny
Strimmer
Paul McGuigan (due a run)
McQuaid
Darren Hughes
Dick
Spindley
Jinxy
Jap
Manzie
Rory
Ronaghan
Tommy
Quote from: thebandit on March 24, 2009, 10:18:09 PM
I suspect we might see Manzie restored to the half forward line this week, does anyone know what the story is with JP?
Predicted team (assuming JP is injured)
Didn't hear anything ontoward. Assumed he was taken off after 50 mins played in the Meath game cause he was lacking match fitness?
Need a big game from Ronaghan if he gets the nod. I fear he hasn't many tokens left.. Why o why are they not playing Paul McGuigan? He's as good as McManus in my book but jaysus the lad needs game time...
I would say JP was just taken off last week as it was his first game in months. Hope he is fit to start again this week as he needs matches. I expect McArdle to come back in from the start. I hope McGuigan was just sick or carrying a small knock last weekend because I agree with everyone else over the past few weeks - he needs a full game! There were a few players last sat night who looked like they could do without a game. I also think giving Ronaghan another match wouldn't do any harm.
Is there even one Cork football man or woman on this board? We're going to have to start arguing with ourselves.
Quote from: Maguire01 on March 26, 2009, 05:13:53 PM
Is there even one Cork football man or woman on this board? We're going to have to start arguing with ourselves.
There's plenty of people in Monaghan GAA well able to do that :D
The article in yesterday's IN quotes Banty as saying that everything's going fine and we're in much better shape than in previous years. Now I agree with some of this but I do still think that a few positional tactical changes could/should happen before the championship, event if it's 11th hour stuff..
Anyways, it's kinda confusing as the average Monaghan fan wouldn't be that happy yet the mgmt think all is sunny.. ::)
If McGuigan doesn't get a proper run this weekend I'll be a bit pissed off, you'd swear Banty and him had fell out the way he's getting left out. Not even getting a run last week was a joke, and before that he only got a handful of minutes each match anyway. He's good enough to be a regular starter but isn't getting a chance to shine, and at this rate looks like he won't figure much in the championship which is a shame. I'd imagine JP's fine, it was his first game in a long time, he'll be grand for this game. Strimmer will probably be back in too alright. I'd imagine Duffy will stay in nets as he was solid last week. I wonder will he persist with Raymie at full-forward, he didn't have the desired impact last week but I've a notion he'll start again, hopefully he does better.
On the game itself, I'll be going more in hope than anything else, considering recent form. Despite Cork's injuries we're still very much up against it. The last two performances hae been far from encouraging, and Cork is one team we always struggle against. A big team like Meath so I'd imagine we'll have to work extra hard to get much possession around the middle. The hard workers like Dick and Jinxy will have to have big games as breaking ball will be crucial, we'll not win many kick-outs clean.
On the subject of kick-outs, we need a 'plan b'. Last week we went for the long kickout for 70 minutes, and we lost it about 90% of the time. Some days this won't work, and Sunday may be one of them - we need to be able to vary it a bit.
Quote from: Maguire01 on March 27, 2009, 04:07:54 PM
On the subject of kick-outs, we need a 'plan b'. Last week we went for the long kickout for 70 minutes, and we lost it about 90% of the time. Some days this won't work, and Sunday may be one of them - we need to be able to vary it a bit.
This is the reason why McBennett pushed Duffy off the number one spot last year, cause Duffy's kickouts were way too predictable. Brilliant for distance but no variation. It's worrying that this hasn't been detected/corrected!
Still no team news in today's papers - what's that all about? Surely the team has been named for the match programme?
Well at least you have an ulster ref today and that should help with he tight decisions on the tight pitch ;)
Quote from: carol6 on March 29, 2009, 12:34:40 PM
Well at least you have an ulster ref today and that should help with he tight decisions on the tight pitch ;)
Doubt the Ulster Ref was 6 points the dirrerence now Carol..
Great result. I know Cork had a lot of injuries but great win, well done Monaghan!
Better performance today by all accounts. Much more purpose in most of our play. And for a 15 minute spell towards the end of the 1st half we owned the ball but also stuck on the points that were needed. The half back line were on top form after a slightly shaky start, Lennon did well enough in midfield and Jap was on fine form. Ronaghan made a positive impact too and maybe springing him from the bench is the way to go for the future
Brilliant result today and the performance was a million miles from last week.
Clerkin put in tons of work and won some great ball - only for his yellow card and having to leave early, he would probably have been my man of the match. Finlay probably gets the nod for today - brilliant points both from the ground and out of the hands. Damien Freeman also had his best game for Monaghan in about a year - really came into it in the second half. JP Mone seemed confident in the full-back line - we might have had a bit more trouble there if he wasn't back. New(ish) boys Darren Hughes and Downey continue to look at home in the squad and should retain their places come championship time.
Quote from: carol6 on March 29, 2009, 12:34:40 PM
Well at least you have an ulster ref today and that should help with he tight decisions on the tight pitch ;)
If Sludden hadn't been the ref we would probably have won by more. Made some baffling decisions and failed to blow up numerous occasions where the ball was picked straight off the ground. He didn't win any friends in the (admittedly biased) crowd.
Scotstown worked out well for the game, but it's a pity the stand isn't bigger (especially in the rain) and the terraces a bit higher. It also took me forever to get out of the place.
Quote from: Maguire01 on March 29, 2009, 07:17:06 PM
Scotstown worked out well for the game, but it's a pity the stand isn't bigger (especially in the rain) and the terraces a bit higher. It also took me forever to get out of the place.
Cheers Maguire01 for report. You should have sat on the 20ft the wall between the pitch and the graveyard with all the other lunatics!! I always look at them and go 'madmen' or 'madness' that it's allowed by the officials! If you fell it'd hopefully be backways into the graveyard as it would be handier for the funeral. Would save on the price of a hearse!! :D
We scored from a 45.
That must be the first in a few years.
Quote from: Main Street on March 30, 2009, 05:38:01 PM
We scored from a 45.
That must be the first in a few years.
Yep - it was worth the admission just for that!